News

Flood chiefs in pay row as storms return

PR boss leaves after agency misled public

A surfer exploits the conditions at Lyme Regis, Dorset, yesterday as the Met Office forecast more heavy rain for most of the country (Richard Austin)

THE Environment Agency’s handling of the floods crisis was thrown into new
turmoil last night after it emerged that its PR chief has quit with a
six-figure payoff and an- other key boss is still being paid tens of
thousands of pounds despite having resigned last year.

A Sunday Times investigation has revealed the full level of mismanagement in
government, and fat cat pay at the agency, which has been criticised for
doing too little to protect people in northern England in the face of severe
downpours over Christmas.

With the southwest, Wales and northeast Scotland being warned to brace
themselves for more severe storms and flooding this weekend, it can be
disclosed that: